Pittsburg KS: KSEK-FM, AM To Get New Owners

The SKIL Resource Center Inc. has begun transferring its KSEK radio stations to new local owners, the group announced Monday.

Jessica and Mika Nugent will take ownership of Classic Rock KSEK 99.1 FM, while Triple T Plus Two Inc., headed by Jerry Tibbetts, will receive Fox Sports KSEK 1340 AM. The sale of both stations will be finalized pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission.

The Nugents said on their Facebook page, Luke Nugent Memorial, that they planned to use a settlement recently awarded to them in a suit against the Carl Junction School District to buy a radio station and promote the anti-bullying movement. The couple was paid $300,000 earlier this month as a settlement in a federal wrongful death lawsuit, which had alleged that district officials failed to protect their 14-year-old son, Luke, from bullying, which ultimately led to him taking his own life.

KSEK 99.1 FM (6 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Shari Coatney, president and chief executive officer of SKIL Resource Center, said in a statement that she wanted the KSEK stations to remain in the control of the local community.

"At SKIL, maintaining localized ownership of what has been a valuable community resource was of major importance," she said. "We encourage the area businesses and community individuals who have supported these stations with their advertising dollars in the past to continue to do so with the new ownership, thus maintaining the heritage and vitality of KSEK-AM and KSEK-FM in the community.

"The Nugents and Jerry Tibbetts have been a part of the SKIL family, past and present,” she said. “Because of these relationships, I’m confident that both stations are in good hands."